Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Lyn Allison has criticised the Federal Government's bully-boy tactics surrounding its controversial nuclear waste dump.

Senator Allison, also the partys nuclear spokesperson, said legislation currently before the House of Representatives seeks to exempt the Federal Government from the environment laws that all other Australians have to obey.

"The Bill Minister Nelson has dumped in Parliament today shows utter disregard for the rights of Indigenous owners, for the value of the Northern Territory's natural heritage, and for the government's own responsibilities to act within the law."

The Bill, moved today by the Government, will overturn a Northern Territory law that was introduced to stop the Federal Government establishing a low-level nuclear waste dump at one of three sites in the NT.

"While forcing through new laws may be an appealing quick-fix for the Federal Government, it does not take into account the community concerns, or the need to provide a safe, stable storage site, which should be close to where the waste is generated," Senator Allison said.

"This approach, which proposes a nuclear waste dump is not assessed under environment or heritage laws and cannot be challenged by Indigenous people, is further evidence of a like-it-or-lump-it policy on nuclear waste.

"Taken alongside government pressure to increase uranium exports and unwillingness to prosecute safety breaches at the Northern Territory's Ranger uranium mine, this legislation is certainly not good news.

It does nothing to ensure a waste dump will operate safely - rather it insinuates the Federal Government simply doesn't believe they can meet the standards set under their own environmental laws," Senator Allison concluded.